The Central government has decided to repatriate two Pakistani boys lodged in a Rajasthan jail even after completion of their sentence.
The Home ministry informed the National Human Rights Commission that Ikhlaq Bhatti and Mohd Suleman Bhatti had been accepted for repatriation by the Pakistan government, the NHRC said in a press release in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Ikhlaq and Suleman, both residents of Hafizabad in Pakistan, had crossed the border in August 2000. They continued to be detained in District Jail, Ganganagar even after having completed their term of imprisonment, the Commission said.
The Ministry has said that it had received travel documents of the 2 boys for endorsement of exit permission and the report discloses that the Pakistani nationals would be repatriated to Pakistan immediately after Rajasthan government confirms their non-involvement in any other case, it said.
The NHRC had intervened in the matter after receiving a petition from Pakistan's human rights activist Asma Jehangir.
It had sought reports from the ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs regarding allegations that they continued to be lodged in jail even after their term completed.
"After exchange of correspondence, a final report has now been received by the Commission in the matter from the deputy secretary, ministry of Home Affairs," the NHRC said.